Ask Larry

Are There Any Other Filing Options?

I am 66, started drawing SS Oct 2015 and retired Jan 2016. Collecting approx $2550/mo before taxes. My wife turned 65 in May. My intention was to have her draw on my SS ($1250/mo) when she turned 66 next May. That would have been almost identical to her full SS benefit filing on her own record, an allowing her own to grow until age 70. However, last week due to circumstances at work, she suddenly retired from her employer. I believe we are now stuck with the following options: (1) Not filing at all for her until age 66 and struggle to get by until then, or (2) file on her record now to get what we can and be stuck with that forever. I don't know what her draw would be at 65 yrs and 1 month. Are there any suggestions or options.

Larry,
There really aren't any other practical options. Option 1 will have significantly higher lifetime benefits than Option 2. In Option 2, her retirement benefit would be reduced by 7.33%, in Option 1 it would be increased by 32%.
Best,
Mike

Posted: 
Jul 1 2016 - 9:00pm
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